Battles Unfolding at Marseille World Cup Final

Sailing’s World Cup Series came alive on Wednesday as the medal hopefuls battled it out at the front of their respective fleets in a steady breeze and under blue Marseillaise skies.

Day one of the competition saw the competitors keep their cards close to their chest as they looked to lay down some markers. The second day saw the emergence of some medal contenders pushing ahead at the front of their respective fleets.

Racing commenced at 12:00 local time, with a steady 7-11 knot southerly breeze dancing across the four racing areas to test the 212 competitors from 34 nations racing across eight Olympic events.

Italy’s Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti and Great Britain’s John Gimson and Anna Burnet are locked on 16 points apiece in the Nacra 17.

Tita and Banti are the form team in the Nacra 17. They won gold at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia and swiftly followed that up with the honours at the final World Cup Series round in Hyères, 90km east of Marseille.

They have brought that form into the Final and are making their time on the water count. “We had to be patient today to find the right moment to make a decision,” commented Banti. “Our speed upwind was good, and we finished all three races in the top five, so it was a successful day for us.”

Vittorio Bissaro and Maelle Frascari (ITA) held the lead after five races but dropped down to fourth after a 15th in the final race of the day.

Come Tokyo 2020, only one Italian team will be able to go to the Olympic Games, if they qualify, but for now the two teams remain close. “We train together, eat together and compete with each other,” explained Banti. “We are family and we all push each other in order to improve.

“Of course, we compete on the water, but we are happy when we see them win.”